Prediction of Adolescence Overweight from Childhood Body Mass Index 7 Year Retrospective Study of Suburban School Children

Lee, Seung Hun; Hwang, Jeong Sook; Park, Hye Soon

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Childhood and adolescent obesity, not only increases the risk of obesity into adulthood but also is a significant culprit affecting health in general. The purpose of this study was to examine the trend in body mass index (BMI) and to investigate the prediction of adolescence overweight from childhood weight status by retrospectively tracking for seven years.
METHODS
The subjects, 520 adolescents aged 14 and 15 years, were recruited from a junior high school that is located in Guri-city. The subjects' height and weight measurements were extracted from the school records of annual physical examination. We assessed their BMI over a period of seven years starting at age seven. Other baseline data were obtained by questionnaires which were completed by both the subjects and their parents in 2001.
RESULTS
The prevalence of overweight, according to the Korean Pediatric Society guideline, increased at age 7 through 14. The overweight adolescents of age 14 were more likely to have an obese mother. The results showed that 84% of males and 47% of females who were overweight in childhood continued to remain overweight in adolescence. Compared to the non-overweights, the relative risk of becoming an overweight adolescent among overweight boys was 5.7 (95% CI: 4.1~8.1) and among overweight girls was 6.3 (95% CI: 3.4~11.4).
CONCLUSION
Approximately 70% of the overweight children continued to remain overweight as adolescents. Therefore, prevention and effective management of obesity during childhood and adolescence are essential.